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Father Bernard Sheehan, O.S.B.
February 5, 1935 - January 29, 2003
by Father Richard Thell, O.S.B.

 
 
            “It is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible specter, as represented in pictures. In the catechism it is said that death is the separation of the soul and body, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God forever.” These profound words were written by St. Therese of Lisieux suggest that she was not afraid of her own mortality, rather she was fortified in the knowledge that with earthly death comes the long awaited promise of eternal life.
        Father Bernard had a particular devotion to Saint Therese; his personal library had many books (both in English and French) which dealt with aspects of Therese’s life and writings. Father’s personal notes and journals also indicated that he was well acquainted with this great nineteenth century saint. The above words by St. Therese must have brought great comfort to Father Bernard during the last months of his life.
       It is sobering on one hand and uplifting on the other to be able to be with a brother monk as he is about to enter eternal life. This was the case for many of us when we heard, on January 29, that our confrere Father Bernard had only a couple of hours to live. Many of us made our way to his room on that late Monday afternoon to stand and pray at his bedside. Thus fortified with the Sacrament of the Sick and the prayers of his confreres, Father Bernard died peacefully in the abbey care-center just before Vespers on January 29, 2003.
       Father Bernard was born Michael Sheehan at Augusta, Georgia, on February 5, 1935; he was the son of the late William F. and Edrie Sheehan. Throughout his life Father was always very proud of his Southern heritage and upbringing.
       After attending Catholic schools in Augusta, Michael began his college studies for the priesthood at St. Bernard’s Seminary in Cullman, Alabama. He graduated from Conception Seminary College and then began his theological studies at Conception.
       Michael entered the novitiate at Mount Michael Abbey in 1964; he professed his first monastic vows as a Benedictine monk on July 25, 1965; at that time he took the great monastic name of Bernard. Three years later he professed his final vows. After completing his theological studies at St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana, he was ordained to the priesthood on September 7, 1968.
       After ordination he continued his advanced degree studies in Europe; he studied theology at the Abbaye de St. Andre, Belgium, and he earned his masters degree in French at the Sorbonne in Paris.
       Despite his vow of stability there was always something of the “wandering monk” in Father Bernard. For this reason his monastic resume is a testament to his various interests and talents. Throughout his monastic life Father Bernard held many and varied positions here at the abbey, and Mount Michael High School. He also enjoyed a diverse range of pastoral assignments, which took him away from the abbey.
       When he was not working away from the abbey, Father served as one of our most gifted teachers at Mount Michael High School. His major teaching area was French; he also taught history and theology. He touched the lives of many Mount Michael students, who affectionately referred to him as “Pere Bernard.”
       At various times within the abbey, he served as guest master, novice master, vestiarius, master of ceremonies, and archivist. His various pastoral assignments included time at Fort Yates Indian Reservation, North Dakota; guest master at Mont-St-Michel Abbey on the Norman coast in France. Within recent years he served as assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Storm Lake, Iowa; and from 1993-1996 he was pastor at St. Joseph Church in Schaller, Iowa. He also had a special affection for the Carmelite Sisters of Sioux City, Iowa. He was a regular visitor to their monastery; he offered them spiritual direction and friendship.
       He always spoke fondly of the religious and lay people with whom he worked while on these various pastoral assignment. Over the years he made many friends with whom he continued a lively correspondence. (No emails for Father Bernard. His letters were often written on good stationary with a real fountain pen!)
       Father Bernard was a very learned man. His knowledge of European history, church history, and literature was wide-ranging. This knowledge came about because of his devotion to serious reading. His extensive travel, his variety of academic interests, and his spiritual reading (especially the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux) made him a gifted homilist. His homilies were often filled with historical, spiritual, and literary allusions; and in the end they contained a message that was down to earth and practical.
       Father Bernard had a great devotion to the relics of the saints; thus one of his legacies to Mount Michael will be his collection of reliquaries containing the relics of many of our great saints. Father took pleasure in telling how he would find many of these beautiful objects in European flea markets. It is our hope that in the future we will be able to display these treasures in a prominent place within the abbey.
In August of last year, Father Bernard returned from his last extended pastoral assignment; he had been chaplain to the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, South Dakota. He was there just a short time; but the cards and letters he received during his illness indicate that he made many friends among the Sisters, and that they were very appreciative of what he did for them as their chaplain.
       Upon his return to Mount Michael it was his hope was to “take it easy,” so that he could spend time in reading and study. In September of 2002, Father was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor; because of the advanced stage of the disease, Father elected not to pursue aggressive treatment of his cancer. He spent his last months of monastic life preparing for eternal life. He was an example for all of us.
       It was Father Bernard’s wish that upon his death his body be donated to science. A memorial Mass will be held for Father on Saturday morning, February 8 at 10:00 at Mount Michael Chapel.
       I want to close this tribute with a quote from another great saint to whom Father Bernard had a particular devotion. Saint John Chrysostom has written: “He whom you loved and lost is no longer where he was; he is now wherever you are.” Saint John meant these to be words of comfort to those who suffer the loss of a loved one. Thus they should be words of comfort to all of us who will miss Father Bernard; and as we pray for him, we can now be sure of his prayers for us!